Sea Otter and Whale Watching Tour on Northern Vancouver Island
Description
Experience an exciting wilderness experiences rooted in the culturally rich territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. Hop aboard our rigid hull inflatable (RHIB) wildlife viewing boat with shock mitigating seats and explore the diverse wildlife of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, on the wild West Coast of Canada. Departing from Port Hardy, we spend the day searching for and viewing sea otters, humpback whales, orcas, Dall’s porpoises, Pacific white-side dolphins, Steller sea lions, bald eagles and a multitude of sea birds. Our signature 5 ½ to 6 hour tour showcases the unparalleled waters of northern Vancouver Island. The speed of our vessel allows us to cover a large area and provides us with greater opportunities to see as much wildlife as possible. We may not see all the above animals on every trip but our guides are well acquainted with the local waters and the best places to see wildlife.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travelling thorough the waters of the the Kwakwaka’wakw we are on the lookout for wildlife in the water, on land, and in the air.
Explore the wildlife rich waters, islands and shores off northern Vancouver Island. Search for sea otters, humpback whales, orcas, porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles and a multitude of sea birds.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Lunch and drinks are provided. Gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, and vegan can be accommodated with at least 24 hours notice. Please note dietary restrictions in the special requirements field when booking.
- Please arrive at Coastal Rainforest Safaris' office half an hour before your tour's departure time to be outfitted for floatation suits and sign a waiver.
Reviews(61)
Cannot overstate what an amazing and special experience this was. AJ and Tyler took great care of us all and their thoughtful and knowledgeable sharing enriched the experience of being in such a wild and beautiful place. Of the four local wildlife tours we have taken on our holiday this was by far the best, if we could give it more than 5 stars we would! Humpbacks trap feeding, Dall’s porpoise, otters, seals, sea lions fighting and last but not least as we were hunkered down in the rain on the way back to dock - Orca.
Wonderful day on the boat with experienced guides, seeing incredible nature. Our guides knew where to spot bald eagles, sea otters, and whales. Impromptu sightings of dolphins and a stop on the return for Orcas. Our guides were also so kind, friendly, and knowledgeable about First Nations, sharing from a personal, authentic place that made this experience even better. I would highly recommend.
Excellent whale watching and otter trip with Andrew, who is a truly knowledgeable guide and great company. It was a shame the original seabirding trip had to be cancelled because of winds and swell in previous days: the boat is very good for whale watching around sheltered islands and bays, but by no means a deep-sea ocean vessel, so seabirding trips have a significant likelihood of being cancelled. (The 20 June 2026 and at least one 2025 seabirding were cancelled for example).
We had the most incredible day with Coast Rainforest Safaris! We were lucky enough to see humpback whales 🐋 doll porpoises 🐬 bald eagles 🦅 sea lions 🦭 seals 🦭 sea otters 🦦 star fish ⭐️ and jellyfish 🪼 A trip of a lifetime! Our guides AJ and Gana were fantastic, so knowledgeable, very friendly and made the experience so magical for us. Lunch was delicious, deli style sandwiches and a gorgeous homemade quinoa salad alongside hot drinks. The boat was unbelievably comfortable, the suspension seats made for a very smooth ride over some choppy waves. Having only 11 passengers made for a lovely small group experience where we all got to know each other and share our experiences, worth every penny!
We had a brilliant day out on the water with Coastal Rainforest Safaris. Seeing humpbacks, sea otters, bald eagles and sea lions was an incredible experience and we’re very grateful to Thomas and the team for sharing it with us. We were also very impressed with our lunch - healthy, plentiful and in such a scenic location on board the boat. Thank you!
Did the 6 hour Sea Otter & Whale Watching tour with Skipper Thomas and Naturalist Will on Tuesday 9 June. In a word it was - enchanting. We saw multiple humpbacks, sea lions and sea otters. Bald eagles - both adults and juveniles. We were also lucky enough to observe a family of orcas as they cruised the shorelines at a relatively slow pace. It was an amazing experience to be able to watch them with no other boats or people around. Both Thomas and Will were highly capable and informative guides. The boat itself was very comfortable - the suspension in the seats made the bumps barely noticeable. Lunch was delicious, as we sat in an incredibly picturesque cove - again in isolation with only birds to keep us company. Thoroughly recommend this tour. I’d go back in a heartbeat
We had an amazing time! This is one of the best tour companies of all the tours we have been on. We love the knowledge and high level of care and respect that Thomas and Will provided towards the all of the animals and land on this tour. The lunch was awesome and fit our specific dietary needs. They ensured our comfort and that we saw as much wildlife and important sites as possible. We would highly recommend Coastal Rainforest Safaris and will come back again for more adventures. Thank you so much for this experience!
Fantastically beautiful tour of remote wilderness, wonderful First Nations guides, comfortable boat with good suspension, otters, sea lions, bald eagles and humpback whales and to my surprise, a nice lunch served on top of that. Loved being the only ones on the water instead of surrounded by other tourist boats. This First Nations owned and operated tour company is he best!
I did this tour together with my boyfriend and we had an amazing time! The welcome was warm and everything was clear! During the tour our guides Mike and Tyler explained us a lot about the area and the animals. We have seen a lot of different animals: otters, sealions, birds (Bald Eagle, Pigeon Guillemot, King Fisher) and last but certainly not least we were lucky enough to see 5 humpback whales!! It was an amazing experience being so close to all these animals and the remote and beautiful nature. They also provided a lovely lunch! If you are looking for a nice safari I can highly recommend these guys!!
What a fabulous day. Great guides. Fabulous boat. Delicious lunch. Once in a lifetime experience. Couldn't recommend it any higher.
